Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-22
A WONDERFUL CAVE.
TIE aRYAr DISCOVERY xADR RE
GENTLY NEAR ANDERSON.
The Adventures Of an Exploring Party
Countless Underground Beauties
Lakes, Rivers. and statuary.


Norrospcndence Of the Richmond Dispatch
HINTON, W. VA, June 20, 1887.
when i sent you brief notice OF the
discovery OF a cave near the town OF Al.
deron little did then dream Of its mar
vellous wonders. Day by day large crowds
Of explorers have gone thither and search.
ed INTO the hidden rccesses OF the earth,
and still large portions OF thus cave have
been untroddcn by the foot OF man. How
far it extends into the earth, what wonders
are yet 10 be discovered, are questions for
the future. A large crowd OF persons have
just returned to this place, and your CORE
spondont interviewed one OF tnom. John
n. Ferguson, Esq, formerly OF Stauuton,
Va. but now OF this place, who thus de-
scribes the visit:
On last Sunday evening, in company
with several gentlemen OF Anderson, we
left that town, having procured a half
dozen lanterns, and set out for the cave.
We found the opening at the foot OF pre-
cipitous bluff directly on the railroad,
little over five miles east OF Anderson and
one and one bali miles west OF Fort Spring,
and in close proximity 20 Huddiestun's
quarry. The entrance Is about fifteen feet
above the level OF the roSdbed and near
forty above the level Of Greenbrier river,
which runs almost perpendicularly below
the road.
THE START.
Having lighted our lamps, in company
with Mr.. Surgeon, who lives at the water
tank near bv. aud Engineer Frank Wat
kins, We entered the large mouth OF the
cave In quest Of wonders. We made
gradual descent Of nearly forty feet, and
then we struck a solid bottom at the mouth
Of a long passage. way arched with blue
limestone, ranging in height from twenty
TO one hundred feet and IN width from ten
20 ffty feet, We followed this until we
came 10 another descent, very steep, OF
about twenty feet, which brought us 10 q
point al which the cave divided, aud we
found two distinct routes, one leading, as
rear as we could Judge without compass,
southwest and the other southeast.
THE SOUTHWEST PASSAGE,
Having left mark at the dividing point
we began the exploration OF the southwest
massage, ard had not gone over hundred
feet or so when the beauties OF the subter-
ranean world began TO show themselves.
Here were iunumerable passages leading
ND and down, crosswayS, and every Other
way, many OF which We explored for long
distances. The passages leading on an in
cline 10 the left brought us into long
broad grotlo some 200 yards long and
ranging irem eight 10 fifty feet in height.
This srotto was oyerhuug with long sialac-
iites about the size Of rye straw, and,
from the reflection OF our lamps, looked
like huge room ia some fairy parlor in M
iceberg hung with icicles. On the floor
immense columns reaching from one 10 ten
feet high reared then selves.
CRYSTAL LAKE.
A little further on we reached a "cTystal
lake" beautiful sheet OF water, perfect
miniature lake, formed OF little tiny walls
Of lime formation about one half inch IN
thickness and three inches high. This
lake was about six feet wide and ten or
twelve long, and the basin was interspersed
with lakelets Of all sizes. formed by the
same kind oi%alls, These walls look eX'
sctly like fluting.work, constituting one Of
the erandeSt sights the eye ever beheld.
We then made an ascent OF about two hun
bred feet and came into q hallway which
led directly of to our left, over PERCEPTIONS.
looking chaSms, which, for aught we know,
were hundreds OF feet deep. These crevlces
were from three to ten inches wide. After
passjrg over these the roar, splash, and
ISiliIk VI many hottAN -lNNhNN W..
ears, In full tilt we made for the falls
Directly in our pathway we tird giant
p1eoiulce staring Us in the face. We tied
6ne Of our lamps TO pole and lowered it
ten feet, and about ten feet lower down
could see a beautiful. level walkway up an
incline which led in the direction from
whence the splashng sound cmanated.
Gertlv flowing alongside Of this walkway
appeared a steam OF Silyery water bout
two feet wide. Not having ropes or lad
ders we had TO remain on this balcony
gazing on the mighty works OF nature there
presented IN unSpelkable awe. Around
us, above Us, eyeryW here, we're the most
beautiful formations shining IN their crys-
tai splendOr in q thousand different tints,
and amid all was heard the roar OF the yet
undiscovered cascade. II wasa sight TO be
seen but never to be described. We turned
back. thinking that nature had nothing
more in store for Us to compete with all
this. Little did We think that "the half
bad rot been told"
TIE SOUTHEAST.
Returning TO the forks at the main pas
sage we started out southeast, and after
wading braIch we walked up long val
lev. Proceeding about 800 yards we falne
10 another prCcipice about ten feet high.
We soon found passage-way leading Go%n
TO the bottom, and there we found lake OF
pure water about ten feet wide AMI from
six inches to two feet deep and how long
we know not. At one end Of this lake was
n beautiful shore Of the finest sand thickiy
covered all ever With little ROCKS OF
tyery conceivable shape end as black as
midnight. Passing around & iuttiDg cray
we came to another lake, which for clear
moss, coldness, and sweetness OF water,
SURPASSED ANYTHING We had ever seen. This
lake il Of oblong shape, devoid Of any eur
rent and OF unknown length. IL can no
doubt be navicated by a small skin. Just
of this lake there was narrow, rounI
passage.way OF which by STOPPING we could
peuttTate several feet until our way was
barred by regular system OF prison
bars standing perpendicular across the
massage. We named this the "DeylFS
Penittntiary." After cropping arould We
found a ledge OF limestone ascending very
gradually into the dark vault above. IDS
ledge seemed to have been formed here fol
the purpose Of ascent, as II was about iOui
feet wide and sloping IN toward The soma
wall, We assembled the Incline ana NJ tht
ton found ourselves at the mouth OF a
roIleh.lookIng passage leading, a. well q
we could Judge. due south. TINS we ioi'
lowed several hundred feet, the passage
getting higher and wider as we progressed
The whole way was liued with stalactiles
mOss-coyered stones, statuiry, and every
thing beautiful. About midway this pls
sage we came upon round column II
the centre OF the pass about six Irche
in diameter at the base and tapering OIL u
one inch at The top. II was aboutfour lee
high. Whilst admiring this drop OF waite
fell on our hand. and we discovered that {
single drop OF water fell from the higl
roof at intervals Of every five seconds an'
struck In miniature basin on the top o
this column, Thus, then. was the column
formed. The most regular ticking OF
clock could not be more regular than I'M
noise Of This single crop OF water. Hos
many thousand Year, has this drop, drop
drop been going on TO form this column!
We proc, eded along the passage-way ua
al We came 10 a wall OF gray limestone
and, cautiously peering around, we dts
covered an opening about I'VE feet big
and two wide. Posing through this, vi
came TO q ledge, which opened into vas
hallway. We found that the path below
this ledge was only twOfeet, and, Chamber
ing down, stood right in a grotto wbic
exceeded in grandeur and beauty anythin
NC had vel dr. AIMED OF. As far as IN